Director Richard Fleischer, son of legendary toon pioneer Max Fleischer of Fleischer Studios, passed away on Saturday at the age of 89. Though he was born into the family that introduced such animated icons as Popeye and Betty Boop, Richard made his living in live-action filmmaking, directing such classics as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Fantastic Voyage, Tora! Tora! Tora and The Boston Strangler. His later works included 1984’s Conan the Destroyer and the 1985 spin-off, Red Sonja.
After graduating college, Fleischer was hired by RKO to write newsreel scripts and short films. His breakout feature, the 1952 B thriller The Narrow Margin, led to a number of job offers, including one from Walt Disney, a long-time rival of his father and uncles. Jules Verne’s adventure yarn, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, would be told on screen many times over the years, but Fleischer’s remains the definitive cinematic adaptation.
Fleischer died of natural causes at the Motion Picture & Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, Calif. He is survived by his wife, three children and five grandchildren.
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